Sheriff’s deputy flips cruiser, walks away

April 28--Logan County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Toombs and the drug dog were involved in an accident recently that totaled a cruiser. Toombs was in pursuit of a fleeing subject when his cruiser blew a tire around a curve, flipped and landed on its top. Both Toombs and the dog were not injured, however, the suspect got away.

Sheriff Wallace Whittaker told magistrates at the Tuesday, April 22 fiscal court meeting, the insurance would be replacing the cruiser, which was totaled.

"I don't understand why they totaled it, it doesn't look like it should be totaled, but it was," said Whittaker.

Magistrate Russell Poore asked Whittaker during the meeting what the policy was for terminating a chase if it got to dangerous.

"I know on these pursuits it puts a lot of lives in danger," said a concerned Poore. "Can't you just look at the license plate and then know you've got them?"

Whittaker said yes, sometimes when they do obtain a license number that's all the need, however, sometimes during certain situations its best to try and get the suspect off the roadways. Whittaker assured the court deputies can terminate pursuits at anytime. He said while pursuits are going on they are being monitored by an on duty supervisor.

Judge Executive Logan Chick mentioned he knew other counties had non-pursuit ordinances that governed who could be chased and for what. Logan County does not have such an ordinance.

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